NSW Dept of Communities & Justice Clerkship Application
Shape justice and protect communities across NSW through meaningful legal work
Program Overview
- Criterion: Penultimate or final year law student - Criterion: Strong academic performance (transcript required) - Criterion: Interest in public law and government legal practice - Criterion: Commitment to community protection and social justice outcomes - Criterion: Ability to work across diverse practice areas (advisings, child law, civil litigation, coronial, information law) - Criterion: Professional integrity and transparency (disclosure of generative AI use required) - Criterion: Two professional referees who can speak to your capabilities - Mentoring: Exposure to multiple practice areas through structured rotations - Mentoring: Work within established legal teams across five specialist divisions - Development: Practical experience in public law, child protection, civil litigation, coronial proceedings, and information privacy - Development: Exposure to high-impact matters including historical abuse claims and human rights representation - Pathway: Up to 8 months duration providing substantial insight into government legal career
Locations
- NSW
Firm Values
- - Identity: NSW government agency delivering community and justice services statewide
- - Identity: Established public sector organisation serving diverse populations
- - Values: Put people at the centre of service delivery
- - Values: Provide highest quality services
- - Values: Ethics at the heart of all work
- - Values: Act honestly
- consistently and impartially
- - Values: Value quality of relationships
- - Values: Do what we say we will do
- - Culture: Inclusive approach to all interactions
- - Culture: How we talk with and about each other matters
- - Differentiator: Take responsibility for decisions and actions
- - Differentiator: Help create safe
- just
- resilient and inclusive NSW
- - Differentiator: Enable everyone to realise their potential
Awards & Recognition
- - Award: NSW Public Sector employer
- no private sector industry awards
- - Recognition: 2025 People Matter Employee Survey: positive progress in inclusion, respect and workplace safety
- - Recognition: Diverse workforce recognised for inclusive and respectful team environments
- - Award: No employer-of-choice or legal industry award listings identified
Community & Pro Bono
- Program: Government body with statutory public interest mandate — no traditional pro bono program - Program: DCJ's core mandate is community and justice services across NSW: child protection, housing, legal aid policy, corrective services, courts - Initiative: Legal Branch handles litigation, public law, inquests, privacy — work is inherently public interest - Program: Supports access to justice through policy reform, legal assistance programs, and community services - Program: Community inclusion mandate includes multicultural plan 2026-2029 and Aboriginal-led family preservation programs - Focus: NSW Legal Aid Commission (separate body) coordinates legal aid; DCJ Legal Branch focuses on government litigation and advisory
NSW Dept of Communities & Justice website
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